Detachable heel



DETACHABLE HEEL Filed Aug. 17, 1935 1. g I A va/roe: 2/ l4 Amer M PEARSON 5y fin s I flrro eusr Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED s'rarss mates DETACHABLE HEEL Henry N. Pearson, St. Louis, Mo.

Application August 17,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an easily applicable heel for shoes, and likewise one which may readily be removed for replacement purposes and the like.

6 It is an object of this invention to provide a heel of this kind having, means engageable with the shoe for rigid attachment of the heel to the shoe, but which is readily disengageable.

More specifically, it is an object to provide an insert on the heel that engages with a cut-out in the shoe insole in suchwise as to resist practically all of the forces tending to remove the heel, so that a simple additional attachment may be used in combination therewith to firmly secure the heel to the shoe.

It is a further object to provide means for preventing relative movement between the attached heel and the shoe, thereby eliminating squeaking.

With these other objects in view, the invention 39 is as set forth hereunder.

Referring to the drawing Fig. 1 is a plan view of a heel suitable for attachment in the manner described.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the heel shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of a shoe with the heel of Fig. 1 in place.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the shoe with the heel removed.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a shoe with the upper cut away showing a modification of the heel attaching structure.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of. Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line I1 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a view of the securing clip of the shoe shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a cross section of a shoe with the heel in place with further modified attaching means.

In Figs. 1 to 4, the shoe is designated at I to which is attached the heel I I. The sole of the shoe shown at I2 is provided with a cut-out portion I3, the front face or wall of which is beveled, as shown at I4.

The heel I I, which may be rubber or leather, or

of any other suitable material, is provided with an upstanding insert or projection I5 on the top surface thereof. This insert I5 is undercut as at It on its forward edge or wall, the other edges being vertical or substantially so. The undercut I5 corresponds in angle to the bevel I4 on the shoe insole. The insert I5 is spaced inwardly from the outer edges of the heel. At the end of the insert 55 opposite the undercut portion I6 is provided an attachment mechanism. This comprises a ball I1 movably retained within a bore I8 1935, Serial No. 36,664 (Cl. 36-36) in the insert and forced to its maximum outward position by a coil spring I9, it being prevented from ejectment by an edge of suitable kind on the insert l5. In the sole of the shoe is formed a depression that is adapted to receive the projecting portion of the ball I'l.

Surrounding all of the surfaces of the heel II that may be in contact with the shoe I0 may be located an anti-squeak binder 2|. This may consist of a thin sheet of rubber or cloth, or it may be a thin coating of graphite applied to the surfaces. It has two functions: the first being to prevent squeaking by rubbing of the surfaces of the heel against the surfaces of the shoe; and the second being to provide by its'elasticity a tight joint between the heel and the shoe.

This device operates as follows: The insert I5 of the heel is slipped into the opening [3 in the shoe, obviously with the undercut portion I6 of the insert engaging around the bevel I 4 of the shoe. Then the back a portion of the heel is pressed into position, the ball I! snapping into the depression 20 provided in the shoe sole to receive it. By this means, the heel is held firmly onto the shoe.

Where the liner 2| is used, a very tight engagement between these parts is formed. This liner, being flexible, may be of such thickness to do away with the necessity of beveling off the upper edge of the insert along that portion remote from the hinge-axis substantially established by the cooperating bevelled surfaces or edges l4 and I6 around which the heel pivots in having the insert pushed into the cut-out. It is obvious that some such provision must be made in order for the wall of the insert to pass the corresponding wall of the cut-out when the heel is thus swung into place.

It will be understood that, when the heel is to be removed for replacement or the like, the process is very simple. All that is necessary is to give a strong pull at the back part of the heel so as to disengage the ball I1 from the depression 20, after which the heel may be removed.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 to 8, the shoe again is indicated at I El. In this modification, the cut-out, as at 25, extends all the way through the sole and the insole of the shoe. The insert portion 26 on the heel 21 is correspondingly proportioned. This insert 26 is of the same general shape as the insert I 5 shown in Fig. 1. However, a different securing means is provided. As here shown, a clip 28 having wings 29 extending across over the margins 30 of the sole and insole is used. This clip has an angularly depending prong 3| extending from the back portion thereof. This prong is adapted to be projected down into the insert 26 and its angular direction opposes that of the bevel 32 at the forward end of the insert. Over the upper portion of this clip the shoe lining 33 is fitted.

It will be seen that, in this type of design, the clip 28, by means of the wings 29 engaging onto the margins 30 of the insole and by means of the prong 3|,will maintain the heel in place. The prong 3| may be made fairly freely removable from the insert and, if desired, the wings 29 may be cemented down in order to prevent slippage. It will be understood that this clip is readily removable by any convenient tools, such as a screw driver or knife or such similar instruments. It likewise may be reinserted with little difficulty.

The modification shown in Fig. 9 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 save that, in place of the ball and depression detent means, a drive screw is employed. This drive screw engages down through the insole of the shoe into the insert of the heel. It may be readily applied with a hammer or the like and removed by means of a screw driver. It is believed that its operation is obvious.

In each of the described types of heels, it will be understood that the insert with its beveled front edge and its vertical side walls provides the principal means for holding the heel in place. When the wearer of a shoe steps down on a heel, the direction of force applied will tend to set the heel more firmly at this beveled portion. It has been determined that the detent means is little more than merely a sustaining device to hold the heel in place against dropping out, and is not subjected to much force in ordinary use.

With a heel of this type, the insert may be made of rubber or it may be made of an inflexible material. In case it is made of rubber, it will be understood that the binder, such as at 2! in Fig. 3, may be eliminated. Indeed, this binder is not essential to the successful operation of the device even with an inflexible insert. However, it is desirable as it definitely precludes squeaking or slipping of the heel.

It will be understood further that, in addition to its function of providing a removable and readily replaceable heel for shoes, this invention provides a simplification in the manufacture of shoes, since the heel may be made separately and applied by the easy mechanism disclosed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed 1. A shoe having a detachable heel receiving cut-out therein, the part of the shoe bordering a portion of the cut-out being beveled downwardly toward the inside of the cut-out and the remaining portion being substantially unbeveled, a heel having an insert the shape of which is complementary to said cut-out, flexible means between the insert and the heel receiving part of the shoe at the cut-out to produce a binding fit between the same, and means for retaining the insert in the cut-out, said means including a ball. in the heel spring-urged to protrude therefrom, and a depression in a wall of the cut-out to receive the said ball in its protruding position.

2. A shoe and a detachable heel therefor, said shoe having a cut-out therein, one wall portion defining said cut-out being bevelled, said heel having a projection, the shape of which is complementary to the shape of the cut-out and engageable therein, said bevelled surfaces providing a partial retaining means for the heel, a recess in the projection opening in a wall remote from the bevelled portion, a ball in said recess, a spring urging said ball into protruding position relative to the said recessed wall, and a depression in the sole adapted to lie opposite the recess opening when the projection is fitted into the cut-out, whereby the heel can be instantaneously operatively positioned in the cut-out or removed therefrom. 

